PT Boats, Inc., has attempted to keep up with these boats; but they have changed hands many times in over fifty years. At one time headquarters had reports of over 40 boats that we believed were different hulls, In 1996-97 three were known to be for sale. Prices ranged from $90,000 to $200,000.

Any one looking for a PT should not expect to find one that looks like it did during the war. These boats have been heavily converted. Essentially, one would be purchasing a hull and many of the hulls have been cut down to 65 feet.

For comparison, PT Boats, Inc., completed the restoration of Elco 617 in 1985 at a cost of $700,000. These 1987 dollars put the boat on static display. Putting a PT back in the water would cost even more.

Building your own PT replica is possible. PT Boats, Inc., has a collection of factory blueprints and microfilm reproductions. Copies can be purchased. The list is available by regular mail, not email.

Today roughly 18 US PTs have been located. These boats are in various states of repair and disrepair. PTs 617 and 796 are on static display in Newberry Hall, the PT Boats Inc. museum at Battleship Cove. Restoration of 617 cost over $700,000 and was completed in 1985. 796 restoration was finished in 1975 at a lesser cost. These two boats are on the National Historic Landmark Registry.

PT 309 was bought by the Admiral Nimitz Museum, Fredericksburg Texas in 1995 and is currently cradled near the battleship Texas outside Houston.

PT 658 was given to a group in Oregon in 1994; they are working to restore the boat.

A Vosper, PT 728, has been reconfigured to look like an Elco and is currently with the Fleet Obsolete in Kingston, NY where it is operational and where PT-48, PT459 and PT-615 are awaiting restoration. A few others boats may still be on the market.

Many PTs were auctioned and otherwise disposed of after the war and have been greatly modified. Many have been chopped to 65 feet. Some have had their deck lowered; most have had the original charthouse/bridge removed. Packard engines were replaced with diesels except in museum restorations.

US Navy PTs were predominately built by Elco Navy Division of Electric Boat Company, Bayonne, New Jersey, Higgins Industries in New Orleans and Huckins Yacht Corp in Jacksonville, Florida. Other builders include, Canadian Power Boat, which built 4 Scott-Paine design boats. Harbor Boat Building, Robert Jacob Yard, Annapolis Yacht Yard and Herreschoff also built (Assembled) PT's from Elco kits and others. The Elco Navy Division manufactured more USN PTs than the other seven. It was later absorbed by General Dynamics, which is still building USN vessels (currently a sub.) Huckins is still building yachts. Higgins went out of business many years ago. Higgins is best remembered for building landing craft.

All men who served with and supported PTs are considered PT Boat veterans. This includes those serving in one unofficial tender or mother ship and 19 official tenders plus thousands who were assigned to Base Forces and other support units. There were roughly 80 shore bases for PTs around the world.

Two PT men were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor: John D. Bulkeley and Murray Preston. Bulkeley retired in 1988 as Vice Admiral after 59 years active duty.

Preston's award was for the rescue of a downed pilot in Wasile Bay, Halmahera Islands, Pacific Theater, while in Ron 33. Previously he had been in Ron 1. He died January 7, 1968.

Bulkeley received his award from President Roosevelt for "Breakout from Corregidor," the operation that took MacArthur, his family and Philippine officials out of the Philippines as the islands fell to the Japanese. Bulkeley carefully does not refer to this operation as a rescue. At that time he was in Ron 3, the squadron known as "The Expendables." In 1945 the movie, "They Were Expendable," based on White's book, was released. Actual PTs were used in the filming. Those boats came from Ron 4.

Killed in Action PT men are counted at 331. A plaque in their memory can be seen in the reception area of Newberry Hall (PT Boats, Inc. Museum and Library.) KIAs are actual death in combat. Accidental deaths aren't counted. See Memorial

Total thought to have served in all aspects of PT service: 60,000-64,000. It's impossible to determine number of replacements. Everyone didn't go through Melville MTBSTC and MTBRTU. Oft-published statements that PT men were all volunteers are untrue.

Well Known Veterans of PT Boat Service and
Famous People Who Were Associated with PTsInformation from: WW II PT Boats, Bases and Tenders Museum and Archives

Most men serving in PTs shortened "squadron" to "Ron." We continue the practice.
Some ranks and rates will be the ones held at retirement and some will be those held during WW II service. Unfortunately, our information isn't always clear.Anthony B. Akers, (Deceased) Ambassador to New Zealand, Ron 3

Lt. John D. Bulkeley USN Ret, (deceased) President of the Navy's Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV), most decorated military man in US history, recipient of the Medal of Honor for the breakout from Corregidor which took MacArthur and party out of the Philippines. Bulkeley cut the water line to the Guantanamo Naval Base when Castro accused the base of stealing water. Rons 1, 2(2), 3, 7, 34 PT 41. Retired as Vice Admiral in 1988 after 59 years active duty in many ships and stations including PTs. In December 2001, a guided missile destroyer, DDG 84, commissioned bearing his name. The USS John D. Bulkeleys first CO is Carlos Del Torro who was born in Cuba but raised in Hells Kitchen, New York City.
Lt. jg Michael Burke, (deceased) CBS Sports, Yankees, Knicks and Rangers executive; author Outrageous Good Fortune. OSS; Ron 15; PT 209

LCDR Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. (deceased) in charge of small boats in the invasion of Southern France; he was USNR, but his "flag boat" was a British riverboat in TG 80.4. He also was part of the Beach Jumpers who operated with PTs in the Med.

Capt. Robert Montgomery, (deceased) First President of Screen Actors Guild; played the part of Lt. John D. Bulkeley (changed to Brickley in movie) in "They Were Expendable;" Rons 5 and 4. XO PTs 107, PT 68 and XO PT 114. Division Commander of PTs at Panama. Bronze Star. Also light cruiser USS Columbia CL 56 and USS Barton DD 772 at Normandy.

Lt. Byron White, (deceased) Supreme Court Justice, retired 1993; Intelligence Officer Ron 10BACK TO TOPAmong those who rode as passengers aboard PTs: Numerous admirals, generals, senators and other politicians as well as the King of England.

Frances Langford Evinrude, USO singer entertained PT men. While at Green Island in the Solomons she was aboard a PT. Hosted regional PT meeting known as a bull session about 1970 at her restaurant in Florida.

Gen. and Mrs. Douglas MacArthur and son; Presidents of the Philippines Quezon and Osmeña; Gen. Dwight Eisenhower, Col. John Eisenhower, Adm. Chester Nimitz, King George VI of England.